Artist and Visual Activist

Femme and Fiecre

"Femme and Fierce" (2016)

Copper, leather, vinyl, plastic boning

To me this piece embodies my definition of feminism. Feminism represents the idea that the qualities that are associated to any gender or sex should be equally valued in society. I identify as a female. I am a very feminine women. Those qualities that are assigned to me and also the ones that I value should be regarded as equally important to society as those associated with masculinity. But ask someone to list qualities they associate with masculinity, then ask the same of femininity, the list of masculine qualities most likely has a positive connotation to it while the list for feminine qualities in our culture carries a negative connotation (or not a quality valued in high powered positions). Emotional, Vulnerability, Sensual, Intuitive, Homemaker, Passive, Cooperative. Those word either have a negative connotation, or are not taken seriously in the workforce. Women, feminine identifying individuals, or anyone who exudes these attributes are warriors and are strong in their own ways. I wanted to turn the corset, which was historically repressive and restrictive to women, as a symbol of empowerment and unbridled sexuality.